As Scotland inches closer to a referendum which will determine whether it strikes out as an independent country, one cottage industry remains as classic to the region as ever.
Those who journey to the Outer Hebrides will find Harris Tweed, a fabric woven into the culture and very geography of the Isle of Lewis. Required by an Act of Parliament to weave the iconic tweed sans automated machinery, only Outer Hebrides islanders are allowed to create the cloth — and they must do the actual weaving in their homes. A cottage industry, indeed.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Why ghost guns are so easy to make — and so dangerousThe Explainer Untraceable, DIY firearms are a growing public health and safety hazard
-
The Week contest: Swift stimulusPuzzles and Quizzes
-
'It's hard to resist a sweet deal on a good car'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
